THE $33 BILLION CHAIN

BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's here became the nation's second-largest supermarket chain last week when it completed its megamerger with American Stores Co., Salt Lake City -- a move that thrusts it for the first time into the freestanding drug-store business.The new Albertson's will operate 2,437 stores -- including 783 drug stores -- with an estimated volume of $33.4 billion, including $13.7 billion

BOISE, Idaho -- Albertson's here became the nation's second-largest supermarket chain last week when it completed its megamerger with American Stores Co., Salt Lake City -- a move that thrusts it for the first time into the freestanding drug-store business.

The new Albertson's will operate 2,437 stores -- including 783 drug stores -- with an estimated volume of $33.4 billion, including $13.7 billion from Albertson's and $19.7 billion from American Stores. Only Kroger Co., Cincinnati,